Danburgh Castle by Catherine E Chapman

Author:Catherine E Chapman [Catherine E Chapman]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-04-01T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

The lady Fiona closed the door of the nursery behind them. Emma had walked straight over to the crib where Harry lay, sound asleep.

“I wish to make you aware, Nurse, that your services will no longer be required here.”

“I don’t understand, my lady. I didn’t neglect little Harry – he was sleeping when I ventured up onto the ramparts–”

“Your negligence is beside the point,” Fiona stated. “Harry is growing. He no longer needs a wet nurse.”

“But, my lady, this is so sudden,” Emma protested, thinking of Lord Robert.

“Things change,” Fiona said, turning her back on Emma. “Get used to it,” she added flippantly, as she opened the door. “I bid you goodnight, Nurse,” she called coldly, without looking at Emma. She shut the door behind her.

The lady Fiona repaired to the quarters she had already claimed as her own. As she stood in the long window, looking out over the land, combing her long, black hair, the door to the chamber was opened by another. She turned to see Lord Robert standing in the doorway. “What do you want?” she asked him.

“I came to see that you are well,” he replied.

“Huh,” Fiona responded, “you care so little for me, Robert, you didn’t even think to ask why my journey was aborted–”

“I assumed you’d changed your mind–”

“Do you really think I would rather be here than in Scotland?” She didn’t give him time to answer. “And when I come looking for you on the ramparts, I catch you with your common English whore–”

“Emma is a simple, good peasant woman. She is a caring nurse to my child – to our child.”

“Harry is no child of mine–”

“I cannot think, Fiona, that our marriage will work if you cannot look upon my son as your son.”

“I said I would provide you with a nurse. You went against my wishes–”

“I felt obliged to help the poor woman. She is a widow–”

“Her husband wanted you dead! Her husband was a traitor. She too is a traitor. Why do you think I returned tonight? The men feared we were being tracked by rebels. We had to turn back to avoid an ambush. Had I continued on my journey, I might have been killed.”

“I’m sorry–”

“That’s rich – all the while you were back here entertaining your whore!”

“I sent a retinue–”

“But you didn’t accompany me yourself!”

Lord Robert failed to find words to console her. “Please don’t implicate Emma in this quarrel,” he maintained, “she’s just a nurse–”

“Was a nurse – I’ve discharged her–”

“Why?” Lord Robert asked.

“I suspect her. Someone must have informed the rebels that I was to venture forth tonight.”

“Nonsense. Emma is an honest nurse. Her grandfather is a faithful subject. He vouched for her ignorance of her husband’s part in the uprising–”

“You’d like to believe her innocent – you are naive.”

“Besides, Emma couldn’t possibly have informed on you. She hasn’t left the castle since her arrival here – she’s barely left that room.”

“You may trust her. I do not. Anyway, Harry is grown – he has no need of a wet nurse.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.